(AP/Washington Post) Israel must widen the "buffer zone" between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to prevent Palestinians from digging tunnels for arms smuggling, said Col. Shuki Rynski, the commander of Israel's Southern Brigade. Israel also has "grave suspicions" that militants are smuggling ground-to-ground and anti-aircraft missiles into Gaza from Egypt. The army is proposing an 80-foot-deep trench along the border to stop tunnels once Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip next year. Israel has found 90 smuggling tunnels near the Egyptian border during the past four years, and 14 this year alone.
2004-08-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive